About Prozac

Prozac is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Prozac affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Indications:

Prozac is used in the treament of symptoms of depressive illness. It is also used for obsessive-compulsive symptoms with or without concomitant depression. Other conditions that are indicated for prozac are bulimia nervosa and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

How to take:

Adult dosage for depression is 20-80mg per day. Although there may be an increased potential for side effect at higher doses, a dose increase may be considered after several weeks if there is no response. Prozac may be administered with or without food. When dosing is stopped, active drug substances will persist in the body for weeks. This should be born in mind when starting or stopping treatment. Dosage tapering is unnecessary in most patients.

Precautions:

As with other antidepressants, Prozac should be introduced cautiously in patients who have a history of seizures. Prozac should be avoided in patients with unstable epilepsy; patients with controlled epilepsy should be carefully monitored. Prozac is known to be excreted in breastmilk. Its effects on the nursing infant have not been established. If treatment with Prozac is considered necessary, discontinuation of breastfeeding should be considered.